LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - A Little Rock man's life was turned upside down January 14. His wife died, and his 5-year-old remains in a coma seven months after their SUV hit an icy patch, sliding into a pond. It took 43 minutes for proper emergency help to arrive.

An attorney for DangYong Yang told THV 11 News that Yang filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Little Rock. The attorney from California said the lawsuit blames the city and fire department on a fatal wait time. He said they've uncovered alarming information on the 911 operator who finished the call. Among those, he said, the city failed to do a complete background check on her. Police closed their investigation into that operator after she resigned June 14.

Read the entire suit, including detailed allegations of misconduct against the 911 operator and a minute-by-minute recap of the drowning incident: http://on.kthv.com/16y2o2B

The suit states that prior to working for Little Rock, Benton fired the same operator for poor performance. The attorney said the lawsuit centers on the actions and past performance of that operator.

Leo Yang remains in a coma and now lives at a pediatric home in North Little Rock. His father returned to work but rented an apartment near his son to be close by.

As a result of the accident, the city installed piping underneath the pavement at the intersection of Rushmore and Cooper-Orbit in West Little Rock.